GBR: James Dyson

MALMESBURY, WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 1, 2007: Inventor and entrepreneur Sir James Dyson KBE, born 1947, is best known as the inventor of the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. Appointed a Knight Bachelor in the New Year's Honours December 2006. After failing to sell his invention to the major manufacturers, Dyson set up his own manufacturing company. In June 1993 he opened his research centre and factory in Malmesbury. The product now outsells those of some of the companies that rejected his idea and has become one of the most popular brands in the United Kingdom. His net worth is said to be just over GBP ?1 billion. He is pictured here holding a cordless hand vacuum that works on the same principle. (Photo by Derek Hudson/Getty Images)